History

Our History of Tanglin Exhibition which was on show at the School is now available for viewing on-line.
Please click here to view the exhibition.

1920s

The original Tanglin School was founded in 1925 with five children by Anne Griffith-Jones OBE. Miss Griff, as she was known, had come to Malaya from Britain for a holiday and decided to stay. She founded the School so that children no longer had to travel two weeks by sea to attend school in England while their parents remained in Malaya.The origin of the name Tanglin is a matter of historical conjecture. It is said that it referred to the flower of a tropical plant found in the area during the early 20th century. Other evidence suggests that the School simply took its name from the premises it occupied in the Tanglin Club.

1930s

In 1935, Miss Griffith-Jones decided to move the School to the cool climate of the Cameron Highlands and established the Highlands Boarding School with approximately 30 students.

1940s

The Japanese occupation of the Malaya peninsular in the Second World War forced the temporary closure of the School and Miss Griff was imprisoned in Changi jail. After the end of the war, the School flourished again in the Highlands under Miss Griff's leadership.

In 1948, a second closure occurred after terrorists surrounded the School. At this time, most of the School's staff and students relocated to premises in Holland and Orange Grove Roads in what is now Singapore.

1950s

In 1958, Miss Griff retired to the Cameron Highlands and the British European Association, now the British Association of Singapore, took over the private company, Tanglin School Ltd.

1960s

In 1961, after negotiating a 20-year lease on suitable premises in Tanglin Road, the School was handed over to the then Tanglin Trust Ltd.

1970s

In the 1970s, Tanglin Trust Ltd. managed schools in Singapore on a number of sites. Due to demand, the Trust decided to open a third campus in 1971 in Portsdown Road, the School's present location.

1980s

In 1981, the lease for the site on Tanglin Road expired and three Tanglin Trust Schools were then amalgamated into one Infant and one Junior School at Portsdown Road under separate head teachers. At that time there were almost 600 students in the Infant School and about 680 in the Junior School. A nursery was also opened on separate premises in Alexandra Park. In 1987, the Junior and Infant Schools were combined under one head teacher. A single seven-year curriculum was introduced.

1990s

In 1995 Ronald Stones was appointed Head of School and oversaw the expansion of Tanglin to bring together the Nursery, Infant and Junior Schools catering for students aged 3 to 11 at one site.

The 1996-1997 school year also saw the launch of the 3 to 13 project, the first steps in extending the School's age range beyond a Primary School. At this time Year 7 students occupied a renovated South Wing. In the 1997-1998 academic year those students progressed to become the School's first Year 8 students and the 3 to 16 project began. At this time, construction commenced on a purpose- designed Senior School building. In 1999, the Senior School building and swimming pool complex were opened.

Shortly after, the Board of Governors made the decision to further extend the age range from 3 to 18 to enable Tanglin families to plan for their children's entire schooling career at Tanglin Trust School. A purpose-built Sixth Form Centre was then constructed as part of the overall project to redevelop and enlarge the Junior School.

2000s

In 2001, the School's new Junior School building and Sixth Form Centre were opened, bringing all of Tanglin's facilities to modern world-class standards.

In the academic year 2002-2003 Tanglin Trust School commenced providing a British-based education for students aged 3 to 18.

In 2003, the first cohort of some 20 students completed their A-level Sixth-Form studies at Tanglin Trust School.

In 2004, Tanglin became the first overseas school in the world to achieve the Investor in People (UK) standard

In 2005, Tanglin Trust School celebrated its 80th year of providing premier British-based schooling in Singapore. The School's "Year of Celebration" calendar highlighted the major events staged by the School to mark this milestone. Ronald Stones OBE was appointed the School’s first Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a position he held concurrently with Head of School. Construction began to expand the Senior School and plans were finalised to build a Sports and Performing Arts facility with underground parking and a new Central Administration building.

In 2006, Tanglin Trust School’s Board of Governors appointed Steven Andrews as its new CEO, effective from the start of the 2006-2007 academic year. Mr. Andrews took over from Mr. Stones, who served as Tanglin's Head of School for 12 years. Also in 2006, work commenced on the construction of the School’s new Sports and Performing Arts facility with underground parking and Central Administration building.

In 2007, the central administration building, named "The Point", was officially opened. In addition, further improvements were made to the campus, more Senior School classrooms were created, the Sports and Performing Arts facility neared completion and Tanglin launched its Placement Rights scheme.

The Sports and Performing Arts facility named the Berrick Building was opened in 2008. The building was named after a long- serving former Chair of the Board of Governors, Sandra Berrick. In the same year, Tanglin commenced preparations to introduce the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in the Sixth Form and construction began on the new Senior School / Sixth Form Centre and sports facility located nearby on Jalan Hang Jebat

In 2009, Tanglin was authorised to introduce the IB Diploma program. The development of a new Senior School / Sixth Form Centre and sports ground located at Jalan Hang Jebat were completed in September 2009.